Danbury area still has lowest unemployment rate in Connecticut

Published 11:35 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

DANBURY -- Although Connecticut lost nearly 5,000 jobs between May and June, greater Danbury continues to fare better than other areas.

The state Department of Labor released new statistics Thursday.

Connecticut's nonfarm employment in June was 1,639,200, a decrease of 4,800 jobs from May 2009, the labor department said, and a year-over-year decrease of 65,100 jobs.

"Connecticut has now lost 70,200, or 4.1 percent, of its jobs since the start of the recession, which began in March 2008," said Labor Statistics Supervisor Salvatore DiPillo.

"While we have yet to see any meaningful job gains, in comparison with the nation we've had fewer job losses since the onset of the recession, as well as in the past year and over the past month," DiPillo added.

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The state's unemployment rate stands at 8 percent, below the nationwide rate of 9.5 percent. The rate is unchanged since June.

Labor department statistics from the Danbury area -- which includes Danbury, Bethel, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, Bridgewater and Sherman -- show a loss of 300 jobs between May and June, with the unemployment rate up slightly, from 6.8 percent to 7 percent.

Danbury's unemployment rate is the lowest of any of the state's Labor Market Areas, with the next lowest Bridgeport-Stamford, at 7.7 percent.

Seven of 10 major industry sectors experienced job losses, the department said, with increases in two and one relatively unchanged.

The largest loss was seen in professional and business services, which shed 1,800 jobs, the steepest decline in four months.

Elsewhere, construction lost 1,700 jobs and manufacturing lost 700. Other industries experiencing contraction were government, education and health services, financial activities, and leisure and hospitality.

Gains were seen in the information sector, the department said, which added 500 new jobs, while other services gained 800 jobs.